Ingot



J. SCHMELL R SR I GOT March 1 2 Sheets-S eet 2 Filed. May 31 .1930 I INVENTOR. John SchmeZIer Sr:

A TTO NEYS Patented Mar. 13, 1934 Application my 31, 1930, Serial No; 458,425 5 Claims. (01. 22-218) This invention as indicated relates to an ingot and a method and apparatus for making the same. More particularly it has in view the providing of an ingot intended for remelting in whole or in part for casting purposes and is of especial application to ingots of aluminum, or aluminum alloys, or like readly oxidizable metals and alloys thereof.

It also has in view a method of automatically skimming the metal while the ingot is being formed, and of withdrawing the ingot from the mold by lifting it from one end. The invention also includes a special mold and pouring trough for filling the same with a submerged gate in the trough to provide for the automatic skimming of the stream of moltenmetal. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, and one product resulting therefrom, such disclosed means, mode and product illustrating, however,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ingot mold and pouring trough embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 shown in F.g. 1,-

looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of .the pouring trough; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the pouring trough; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lifting lug adapted to be engaged with the ingot; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ingot as seen from the under side; and Fig. 7 :s a perspective view of the end of an ingot as seen from the upper side withthe lifting lug engaged therewith.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ingot mold 1 comprises an elongated receptacle formed ofmetal of suitable heat-resisting characteristics such as cast iron with suitable alloys. The bottom 2 of the mold is fiat on the under side and the inner surface thereof is provided with a series of recesses or pockets 3. As seen in plan, each recess has inclined side walls tapering away from the pouring end. The end wall surfaces 4 of the respective recesses nearest the pouring end are inclined slightly from the vertical, and the end wall surfaces 5 opposite there- .to are formed on a radius merging with. the bottom of the respective recesses.

The side walls 6 of the mold extend to a a substantially flat platform 9 in the plane of the top edge of the mold at that point and is formed with a beveled rib 11 at its sides and at its extreme end which engages with the lower edge of the pouring trough 12 which is adapted to be seated on said platform. It also has a beveled rib or dam 13 adjacent the inner edge of the platform. This dam has one face inclined at a slight angle to the platform and another face continuous with the inclined inner surface of the forward end wall 14 of the mold. The underside of the platform may be formed with a strengthening rib 15, and at the opposite end of the mold a central supporting lug 16 may be provided as an extension of the base of the mold. Each of these projections may be gripped by a tongs to assist in positioning the V mold.

The pouring trough is an open frame of approximately square shape, but narrowed somewhat at the pouring end. The walls are all inclined inwardly so as to provide somewhat the effect of a rectangular funnel.

As is more clearly shownin Figs. 3 and 4, the pouring trough has notches 1'7 beneath each of its side walls to engage: over the dam. At its upper inner edge it has a vertical extension 18 forming a handling lug adapted to be gripped by tongs or other suitable handling device.

The front wall 21 of the. trough is inclined toward the dam and the central portion thereof is narrowed to provide a gate 22 for the molten metal to flow through as it passes over the dam. Suitable wings 23 are formed on the trough to support it firmly upon the side walls. The front wail of the trough has been shown as integral, but if desired may be made removable. At the opposite end of the mold a narrow seat 24 is provided in substantially the plane of the upper edge of the transverse walls. This seat is adapted to form an end flange on the ingot and also serves as the means of embedding the lower portion of a lifting lug 25 in the metal of the ingot as is shown in Fig. 7.

The lifting lug, as shown in Figs. 1. 2 and 5, is in the form of a plate of substantially circular outline as to its upper portion and of inverted V-shape as to its lower portion. The circular portion is formed with ,a central aperture 26 adapted to receive a lifting implement. The rearward face of the lug just above the lower or key portion is provided with a supporting rib 27 adapted to rest on the rear wall of the mold and steady the lug as the hot metal flows about the key portion and interlocks therewith.

The shape of the ingot 28 is clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and it will be noted that it comprises a flat top portion and serrated lower portion with a projecting flange 29 at its rearward end within which the lifting lug is partially embedded. It will be apparent that the shape of the enlargements on the underside of the ingot permits it to be readily drawn free of themold by lifting it solely through the lifting lug and rocking it about the forward end adjacent the pouring dam.

The shape of the ingot also provides for the severing of fractional portions thereof for fabricating purposes. Because of the greater surface provided by the serrated shape, the rate of cooling as well as the rate of heating on remelting is greatly increased, thus promoting speed of manufacture.

Through the use of the trough with the submerged throat or gate, any foreign matter in the molten metal will be automatically prevented from getting into the body of the ingot as the molten aluminum fiows'very freely and the impurities and oxides form a sort of skin or coating which the shape of the trough and the position of the dam and gate prevent from passing through into mold proper. It will be noted from the showing in Fig. 2 that the molten metal is moving upwardly over the inclined face of the dam as it is poured and then must suddenly flow at right angles thereto through the gate. The

pure molten-metal readily changes direction, but

the oxides and foreign particles do not do so and are carried upwardly against the inclined forward wall of the trough. With this upward movement'and the assistance of gravity these foreign particles and oxides will accumulate at the top of the metal in the trough and will be retained in the trough as the pouring operation is completed. v

The process or method involved in this invention is the series of steps which include causing a poured mass of metal, having free flowing metal intermixed with foreign matter, to move in an upward direction over a restricated discharge passageway atright angles thereto, and causing the pure metal to change its direction and flow through said passageway under the action of gravity and the impure metal to continue upwardly towardthe surface of the pouring bath. In a broader aspect the method includes the casting of the ingot from the pure metal automatically skimmed or freed of foreign particles as stated, forming curved faces on the underside of the ingot to permit of its being lifted free of the mold. from one end, providing a means of engagement with said end of. the

ingot and rotating said ingot from said end to free it from the mold.

Oother modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the tinctly claim as my invention:

1. An ingot having a substantially flat upper surface and -an under surface formed on its under side in a series of projections of toothlike cross-section extending transversely of the length of said ingotand to a depth crossing themedeal longitudinal plane thereof to permit fractional severance of said ingot for fabricating purposes, the faces of said projections adjacent one end being substantially vertical and the faces of said projections adjacent the other end being formed on a radius merging with the curved bottom walls of said projections.

2. An ingot having a substantially flat upper surface and an under surface formed on its under side in a series of projections having,

curved under faces presenting non-locking elements with reference to the forming mold and permitting said ingot to be disengaged from its mold by lifting it from one end, said projections extending transversely of the length of said ingot and to a depth crossing the medial longitudinal plane thereof, to permit fractional severance of said ingot for fabricating purposes. 7

3. An ingot adapted to be formed of alumin and the like, having-a substantially flat upper surface and an under surface formed in a series of projections of tooth-like cross-section extending transversely of the length of said ingot and to a depth crossing the medial longitudinal plane thereof, to permit fractional severance of said ingot for fabricating purposes, the faces of said' projections adjacent one end being substantially vertical and the faces of said projections adjacent the other end being formed on a radius merging with the curved bottom walls of said projections, .and each' of said projections being of slightly lesser width adjacent its lower edge.

4. An ingot adapted to be formed of aluminum .and the like, having a substantially flat upper surface and an under surface formed in a series of projections of tooth-like cross-section, the faces of said projections adjacent one end being substantially vertical and the faces of said projections adjacent the other end being formed on a radius merging with the curved bottom jections adjacent the other end being formed on a radius merging with the curved bottom walls of said projections, and an'overhanging flange adjacent the rearward end of said ingot forming a horizontal extension of the upper portion thereof, and an apertured vertically positioned lifting lug embedded, in and extending through,

said flange.

. I JOHN SCMELLER, Sn. I 

